Mermaids group consists of hobbyists and professionals

They had her at "shello."       
When Leah Williamson relocated to Jacksonville Beach from Utah, she was excited to discover a like-minded collective of women who shared her love of mermaids and passion for protecting our natural resources. And what better champions for water conservation than a group of mermaids?
Florida Springs Mermaids is a not-for-profit organization that combines a passion for preservation with the fantasy of mermaids. A portion of all donations are used to support the Florida Springs and similar causes. All other proceeds benefit FSM.
“Some [mermaids] are super passionate about water safety and some are passionate about the ocean and some the springs,” said Williamson. “But every [mermaid] I know is passionate about conservation of our natural swimming areas, be it salt or freshwater.” 
The 3rd annual Spring Splash Mermaid Meet up is tentatively scheduled for May 1 through 3 at Ginnie Springs. The three-day event features a mega swim, night swims, raffle, photography sessions, social gatherings and a potluck dinner. It is also an opportunity for mermaids from across the country to be close to nature in their mermaid finest.
While some group members are considered hobbyists, others are professional mermaids attending birthday parties and social events, and hosting water safety and education classes. All members have their own unique “mersona.” Mermaids greet each other with “shello” and “getting my fins wet" signals when they want to swim.
“We have over 200 mermaids all different colors and sizes. People have tails that they made themselves. Some had them made. But it’s not just about being pretty,” said Williamson, who is known as Kiki. “It’s about conservation, it’s about water safety for kids, it’s about learning about the oceans, and what to do and what not to do. Once a month, they have events where they clean up where they swim.”
And mermaids, as it stands, are a crafty bunch. Such elaborate custom designs can range from $2,500 to $8,000. The economics of being a mermaid inspired many like Williamson to learn the art of DIY. Part of the fun of events like Spring Splash is admiring and encouraging the work of fellow mermaids.
For her transformation as Kiki, Williamson sculpted a one-of-a kind silicone mermaid tail adorned with hundreds of shells and hand-painted in a cascade of purples and gold. Each shell is individually crafted in a plaster mold and added to the finned frame.
“Silicone tails are a labor of love. Each one takes hundreds of hours to complete. Every shell is attached individually on my tails. Even if you could pour all the shells you needed at one time, it takes anywhere from two to eight hours to 24 hours to cure, depending on what kind of silicone you have.”
Williamson constructed her first tail using fabric similar to that used in bathing suits. The silicone suctions to fit her body and holes at the end of the tail allow water to drain. The result is a fantastical creation that generates more than a little attention when she takes it out to the beach for a “swim.”
“I was born in Florida. I was here until I was 10 or 11. I always loved to swim. Swimming in this is really why I made it,” she said. “If you do a little pop up on the beach, people want to take pictures. If you wear this to a swimming pool all the little girls will come up to you, ‘Oh my gosh, are you are mermaid?’ Yes, I am a mermaid.”
Mermaids also get peppered with questions from young admirers about the transformation. Not wanting to spoil the magic, Williamson explains that she’s a mermaid when she’s wet. Only when she’s dry, on land, does she get her legs. It’s part of the fantasy.
Florida Springs Mermaids is open to mermaids in every color shape and size. The only requirement is a love of water.
Said Williamson, “Our motto is, ‘You can swim with us.’”